Brexit Turmoil Drives Down UK Ad Spend Expectations

Slowdown to drag down overall growth in Western Europe

Citing a slowing UK economy, rising inflation and political uncertainty over midyear elections and upcoming Brexit negotiations, Zenith has pared back its expectation for UK ad spending growth in 2017.

Declining UK ad investment, paired with comparisons to a 2016 buoyed by ad outlays surrounding the UEFA Euro Cup soccer tournament, will have a domino effect on the greater European region’s spending picture. Zenith now forecasts the UK’s woes will slow the region’s spending growth to 2.2% in 2017, down from 4.5% in 2016.

The UK had been the leading growth market in the combined Western and Central Europe area from 2011 to 2016, expanding at an average of 7.3% a year by Zenith’s calculations.

eMarketer’s most recent forecast of UK total media ad spending, last updated in March 2017, anticipates a 5.5% increase this year, down from a 6.8% gain in 2016. Investment will be worth $25.37 billion (£34.24 billion).

—Cliff Annicelli

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